The Navy and the National Maritime Authority detected two boats suspected of carrying out drug trafficking activities this morning, in international waters off the south coast of Portugal.
The boats were pursued by the Portuguese authorities, when one of the suspect boats deliberately rammed the Navy vessel, causing a collision and injuring a soldier and two suspected drug traffickers, neither of whom are injured severely.
All the injured were rescued from the patrol vessel involved in the operation, by a Portuguese Air Force helicopter.
According to the Navy statement, a speedboat was seized and the four suspects arrested for being involved in drug trafficking.
Since the beginning of 2023, joint actions by the Navy and the National Maritime Authority, to combat drug trafficking, have involved the arrest of 111 people and seizure of 42 high-speed vessels, with more than 33 tons of narcotics onboard.
